Theft by representation

By Mark West

I have run into many zany, partisan arguments for a variety of policies. I encountered one this week that nearly knocked me to the floor. Interestingly, I wasn't caught by surprise but rather I was amazed by the nature of the argument. I will call this person anonymous in order to protect this person's identity because you just may know this person or have encountered this person at some point in your life. I believe this argument had to be one of the worst and most inane that I have ever hear in favor of the welfare state.

Anonymous and I were discussing the overbearing tax burden that we Americans are yoked into by our governing officials. I thought it would be an interesting thing to point out a little income tax history in order to frame my argument into the proper context. In order to be fair, I will go over that history with you as well.

When originally written, the Constitution of the United States said, "No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid." Dismay over unjust and unfair taxes was a driving force in the founding of the United States of America. Our Founding Fathers made certain, or so they thought, that no person would be taxed directly by their elected government.

Unfortunately, a power struggle emerged between the two major parties: Republicans and Democrats. Republicans were being called the party of the rich, doesn't that sound familiar; and as a ploy, the Republicans developed income tax legislation that was widely accepted in both houses of Congress. Republicans realized their dilemma and demanded that the income tax only be passed as a Constitutional Amendment. The Democrats sold the Income Tax Amendment (Sixteenth for those of you counting at home) to the citizens as a tax only on the rich. Ratified in 1913, about five percent of the population was originally tax eligible. Sandwiched in between two world wars was the Great Depression and the mentality of the people of the United States was that of seeking security at all costs. Suddenly, the national government became a "nanny" state through welfare and social security programs. A need arose for more money to be in the pockets of the federal government. That money would come through increasing the eligibility for taxes and through wage confiscation. It has grown to the extent that now around eighty percent of the population is paying taxes. Rather than being merely a tax on the rich, the Sixteenth Amendment has become the tax on the common as well.

My history lesson was followed by this response: "Roosevelt drove through town and saw all these people not working and knew they were going to go and rob their neighbors and wind up dead or in prison. Roosevelt decided to go ahead and give them some money so that they wouldn't rob their neighbors." Basically, welfare is designed for crime prevention! Did you know that?

Well, the logic of this argument is flawed to say the least. As Walter Williams has been quoted: "Moreover, there's no tooth fairy or Santa Claus giving them the money. The fact that government has no resources of its very own forces us to acknowledge that the only way government can give one American a dollar is to first — through intimidation, threats and coercion — take that dollar from some other American." Hopefully this quote has unveiled the failed logic of this argument. In other words it is immoral and unlawful to rob someone, unless you work for the government!

Having revealed to you the moral insanity of this line of argument, I am now going to move forward and make the case definitively that the income tax is a moral wrong, perpetrated against the citizens of the United States that is in violation of the Constitution of the United States, on the level of slavery.

Exhibit A, as I mentioned above, when written, the Constitution said: "No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid." Let's begin by defining terms because I know that many do not know what "capitation" means, I didn't either until I looked it up. Capitation, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means a direct uniform tax imposed on each hand or person; or a uniform per capita payment or fee.

Question: Is the income tax imposed on each hand or person? If you have income, yes! Is the income tax a uniform per capita payment or fee? Yes again. What is a person, if not his income? Otherwise people are worthless and their work is worth nothing. United States' society is based upon the worth of the person. A worker is worthy of his wages! The Sixteenth Amendment changes this to say: A worker is worthy of only a portion of his wages. The income tax robs people of their hard-earned wage. Rather than being fairly compensated for their labor, they are told by our government that their labor is worthless and exploitable by the government for the use of people other than the ones doing the work. Slave owners used to commit the same crime against humanity. In the Garden of Eden, God said to Adam: "By the sweat of you face You shall eat bread." If a man won't work, he won't eat. Abraham Lincoln saw it as a moral injustice for other mean to eat bread from the sweat of another man's brow. Politicians today don't see it that way!

Exhibit B, we are forced to hand over our income, it is not a willing contribution or donation! Those who fail to file, or file a false claim are harassed and coerced into furnishing their income to the government for whatever the government sees fit to do with it. United States citizens are forced to revoke their own rights to their income by threat of incarceration and fines. It is difficult to give cheerfully when one is compelled in such manner to give.

Question: Are we really free? If we are really free, then our income is our own, not the collective property of the entire nation. If we are not free, then our income is a part of the collective property of the entire nation. How do we know the difference? If we are forced to pay taxes, the implication is that the government owns us, and our property (income). So I will repeat my question: Are we really free?

Exhibit C, it is almost an implied requirement that to be a free citizen of the United States, one must definitely pay taxes to the government. Churches and individuals must purchase the right to freely speak on political and other issues by paying taxes. The First Amendment implies that this right is available outside of paying taxes.

Question: Should citizens of the United States be forced to pay taxes for their right to speak freely on all issues? Constitutionally, no! However, if you ask politicians who are determined to remain in power, you will receive a variety of answers, mostly in favor of taxes.

Concluding the matter, we must realize that our rights as United States citizens should not require a previous purchase. The Fourteenth Amendment considers persons citizens by birth and jurisdiction, not through the payment of taxes. Forced taxation implies that we belong to the government, when the United States Declaration of Independence claims the truth to be just the opposite. Forced taxation reduces the citizenry to worthless people whose labor is vain. Slavery made citizens property and their work worthless. True Patriots should recognize the guilt of our government and demand retribution. The government exists at the consent of the people and we have full right as citizens of the United States to invoke that right and revoke the authority of our government because it has become a despotistic rather than liberating influence on our nation.

© Mark West